Holder for a stick of a spreadable substance

ABSTRACT

A device for holding a stick or rod of spreadable material includes a sleeve or container open on one side, an element co-acting with the stick, and a hand-operated means for varying the distance between the edge of the open side of the sleeve and the stick element. The stick or rod of spreadable material can be an adhesive stick or a wax stick. The stick of spreadable material is packaged separately from the device in an envelope of thin material, and the container includes means for securely holding an envelope of thin material suitable for packaging the stick.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a device for holding a stick or rodof spreadable material such as an adhesive stick, wax stick and thelike, whereby a manually actuated mechanism of the device permits a userto extend a portion of the stick from an associated container forapplication of a spreadable material to a surface.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Known devices for holding a stick of spreadable material may include asleeve not only as container but also as packaging for the spreadablematerial. Once the material is used up the whole container is discarded,causing an environmental impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the type describedin the preamble which can be reused a number of times, i.e. that it isrefillable and that the consumer can replace the stick.

The device according to the invention is distinguished by hand-operatedmeans for varying the distance between the edge of the open side of thesleeve and the stick element.

Due to the option of varying the distance between the edge of the openside of the sleeve and the stick element with the hand-operated means,it is possible each time the stick is used up for a new stick to bearranged on the stick element and pushed into the sleeve, whereafter thestick can be used up once again.

In one embodiment of the invention the sleeve includes mutuallystackable annular parts which are removable so that a new part of thestick for use is exposed each time. When a new stick is introduced thesleeve can be built up again from the rings or annular parts previouslyremoved.

According to another embodiment the stick element is a pusher body forsliding in the sleeve, which in a further embodiment is connected topulling or pushing strips, which are moved by a hand-operated memberaccessible from outside the sleeve.

According to a further embodiment the pusher body is embodied as a nutbody, wherein the hand-operated element is a screw spindle which ismounted in the sleeve, and which is carried through a central hole ofthe nut. By turning the screw spindle the pusher body can be carried upand downward through the sleeve, while carrying and moving with it thestick arranged therein.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the stick ispackaged separately in an envelope of thin material, for instance aplastic foil, wherein the sleeve is provided with means for securelyholding the foil.

The separate packing material for the stick can be made from relativelyinexpensive and easily recyclable material. It can be foldable or hardplastic, such that the packing material can be held back in the sleeveso that the stick can be pressed out of the packing material by thepusher body.

In one embodiment the pusher body is packed in the envelope togetherwith the stick. This can be advantageous if the stick must beretractable, so that the pusher body can be firmly connected beforehandto the stick.

In another embodiment including a screw spindle as previously described,the screw spindle has a length at least equal to the length of thestick, and the free end of the spindle is pointed. With this embodimentit is possible to rotate the stick not only through the nut body butalso through the stick material such that the tip of the screw spindlepierces the front end of the packaging and thereby opens the packaging.

If the packaging envelope is of relatively hard material, in anotherembodiment the envelope is provided with a cylindrical space in whichthe stick is received as well as the nut body which functions as apiston. As a result there will be no loss of relatively thin spreadablematerial.

The packaging material is of foldable material in another embodiment,whereby the packaging material is stripped from along the stick as thestick is used.

The packaging material, in yet another embodiment is, of transparentplastic, wherein it is preferred to provide a window in the sleeve topermit the user to see how much product is still present in the sleeve.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, for easy handling and easyrefilling of the sleeve it includes two shell parts which close ontoeach other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present invention are described andillustrated below with reference to the drawings, in which like itemsare identified by the same reference designation, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a sleeveaccording to the invention suitable for a consumer stick product;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1, with the shellparts of the sleeve folded open, and a stick with associated packagingplaceable therein;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the stick which is packed accordingto the invention with the nut body,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 3 into whichthe hand-operated screw element must be carried,

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a sleeveaccording to the invention,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 5 with shell partsfolded open and a refill stick arranged therein,

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the packaged stick suitable for use;in the second embodiment according to FIG. 5,

FIGS. 8 and 9 each show a perspective view of a third embodiment with asleeve constructed from annular parts,

FIGS. 10 and 11 show respectively a standing side view and a crosssection of a fourth embodiment, wherein an external threaded bodyreleases the stick,

FIGS. 12 and 13 show respectively a standing side view and a crosssection of a fifth embodiment, wherein the pusher body can be fixedexchangeably to the screw spindle,

FIGS. 14 and 15 show respectively a standing side view and a crosssection of a sixth embodiment with a toothed pusher spindle asdisplacing member for the pusher body,

FIGS. 16 and 17 show respectively a perspective view and a standingcross section of a seventh embodiment, wherein the pusher body isconnected with strips to an external hand-operated member,

FIGS. 18 and 19 show respectively a standing side view and a crosssection of an eighth embodiment, wherein the pusher body is coupled withpushing strips to the external operating member,

FIGS. 20 and 21 show respectively a standing side view and a standingcross section of a ninth embodiment, wherein the pusher body isconnected via a push chain to the external control member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 a sleeve 1 is shown in which a refill stick of spreadablematerial can be received. The sleeve 1 is provided with a closure cap 2in addition to a hand-operated element 3 protruding at the other end.

The sleeve 1 consists of two shell parts 4, 5, respectively, as shown inFIG. 2, which are hingedly connected to each other on one side at 6 andwhich can be closed onto each other by a snap connection of conventionalform.

The inner space of the shell parts is such that the refill packaging 8in which a stick 9 of spreadable material is accommodated is whollyencased by the shell parts 4 and 5.

The packaging 8 is further elucidated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Packaging 8 hasa cylindrical space 10 for receiving the stick material 9. On one endthe space is likewise filled with a nut body 11 to be further elucidatedbelow. Nut body 11 is cup-shaped, see FIG. 2, which cup has a centralbushing 12 with an internal screw thread. The cup-like shape of nut body11 can bring about a firm connection to the material of stick 9. Asshown in FIG. 3, the free end of the nut body 11 is flat, and includes acentrally located hole.

The packaging 8 further comprises two side wings 13 in addition to frontand rear wings 14 which can be torn from the central packaging by meansof a tear line 15. The front and rear end are thus exposed and the nutbody 11 left clear as well as the open end on the opposite side.

The hand-operated element 3 here takes the form of a rotary knob ontowhich connects an annular bearing part 16 with a peripheral groove 17.

The sleeve 1 of FIG. 1 is refillable in the following manner.

First the shell parts are opened as shown in FIG. 2. The user will thenprepare the packaging of FIG. 3 by removing the end wings 14 by tearingthem off. The screw spindle 18, which is fixed to the hand-operatedelement 3, is subsequently carried through the bushing 12 with internalscrew thread and likewise through the material of the stick 9. The userrotates this spindle so far that the end stop 19 of the stick is pressedaway and the opening cleared. It is also possible for the end stop 19 tobe bored through by the tip 20 of the screw spindle.

At this stage the configuration according to FIG. 2 is reached and thepackaging can be laid with the hand-operated element 3 into the lowershell half 4, wherein care must be taken that the peripheral groove 17of ring 16 comes to lie in the semicircular recess 21 of the lower shellhalf. After closing the upper shell half 5 onto the lower shell half 4the configuration according to FIG. 1 is obtained and the cap 2 can beplaced on the narrowed end portion 22 of the shell.

Ring 16 is connected to a screw spindle 18, the screw thread of whichcorresponds with the internal screw thread of bushing 12. The screwspindle 18 is provided with a point 20 on the free end thereof.

When the packaging 8 is used only the cap 2 has to be removed and theknob 3 turned far enough to cause a portion of the stick 9 to protrudefrom the sleeve 1 so that the stick 9 can be used. Each time the knob 3is turned in an appropriate direction the nut-like body 11 slidesforward, whereby body 11 fits closely into the cylindrical space of thepackaging and therefore functions as a kind of piston.

After use, the stick 9 can be retracted into the packaging 8 by turningthe screw knob 3 in the opposite direction.

Finally, once the whole stick 9 has been used up, only the packaging 8is discarded after the screw spindle 18 has been rotated out.

In FIG. 4 the screw spindle 18 is embodied with two flat sides 18' lyingdiametrically opposite each other and co-acting with two flattened sidesin nut body 11. With correct positioning of the nut body relative to thescrew spindle 18, the spindle 18 can thus be shifted along the nut body11 without rotation, which facilitates assembly.

A description of a second embodiment with reference to FIG. 5-7 is givenimmediately below.

Here also the sleeve 1 is embodied as two shell-like parts 4 and 5hingedly connected to each other on the lengthwise edge 6.

The stick 9 is packed in a plastic foil of foldable material andtogether with the pusher body 11, for example.

The hand-operated element 3 takes the form in this example of a capwhich fits round the narrowed part 11 of the packaging 8, and which isprovided with a grip 25 with locking cams 26. This grip 25 in the formof an elongate arm co-acts with a slot-like recess 27 in the upper shellpart 5. The lengthwise edges of recess 27 are provided with notches 28into which the cams 26 of arm 25 fall or follow.

This embodiment is used as follows. The user must open the packagingaccording to FIG. 7 on the side remote from pusher body 11 by cuttingoff the sealing wall 29. The user then places the cap 3 on pusher body11 and arranges this configuration in the lower shell half 4 such thatthe arm 25 protrudes through window 27.

The user has only to push in the arm 25 and ensure that the cam 26 fallsinto the following notch 28 of the slot-like opening 27, whereby amovement of the cap part 3 and therefore the pusher body 11 takes placein the direction of the open end of sleeve 1. The stick 9 is thusshifted outward, while the foldable packaging is stripped off at theopen end by the detaining means of sleeve 1. A closure cap 2 can beinstalled over the open end after use to prevent the stick 9 from dryingout.

For refilling purposes it is only necessary to discard and replace thepackaging 8 of FIG. 7.

With reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 is noted that here thestick element 30 is formed as a clamping member provided with clampinglips 31 with a toothed inner surface, such that the bottom end 32 ofstick 9 can be placed on the element 30, wherein the lips 31 are foldedinward, whereby the toothed inner surface comes to lie against the sideof the stick and penetrates therein. The sleeve 1 can then beconstructed of annular parts 33 which are shown in detail on the left inFIG. 9. Due to the upright collar 34, the lower edge of the ring 33located above drops over flange 34, and the sleeve 1 can thus be formedby stacking the annular parts 33 one on top of another. The ringfollowing on from stick element 30 comprises the lips 31 so that a firmconnection is effected between stick 9 and the sleeve 1. As the stick 9is used one annular part 1 at a time can be removed so that the stick 9can be used up completely. A new stick 9 can again be clamped fixedlyand the sleeve 1 can be reconstructed from the annular parts 33, so thata refillable device is obtained. A cap 35 is placed on the top ring toprevent drying.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an embodiment wherein use is made of a fixed sleeve1 in which is accommodated a pusher body 11. The outer periphery ofpusher body 11 fits inside the cylindrical inner casing of sleeve 1. Apressure spring 36 is placed between the bottom of sleeve 1 and thepusher body 11, wherein a threaded ring 37 is mounted rotatably on theopen top side of sleeve 1. Threaded ring 37 is provided with a groove 38which fits around an annular cam 39 of sleeve 1 arranged along the upperedge. The threaded ring 37 is provided on the inside with a screw thread40.

The stick 9 is arranged in sleeve 1 while pressing down the pusher body11 and compressing the spring 36. The stick 9 has a threaded body, asshown, which is initially separate of sleeve 1 and includes the ring 37provided with screw thread 40, is then snapped over the annular cam 39by means of the groove 38. The spring 36 will press upward the stick 9which will be held back by screw thread 40. By turning ring 37 the sticknevertheless moves outward and, with further turning, can be carriedcontinuously outside of the sleeve and used. By turning ring 37 in theopposite direction the stick can be pressed inward again. A cap 35 canbe installed over stick 9 and to prevent drying out.

The stick 9 can be replaced with a new stick by removing the ring 37,whereafter the above stated operation can be repeated.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show an embodiment wherein the pusher body 11 isreceived in the packaging 8 of slightly stiff material which may or maynot be manufactured from transparent material. A pusher body 11 isreceived in the packaging 8. Pusher body 11 is movable upward anddownward in packaging 8 by being coupled beforehand to a head 40,rectangular in top view, of a screw spindle 41. This screw spindle isreceived in an inner threaded bushing 42 which is coupled at the bottomend to a hand-operated member 43. The latter is connected via atongue/groove connection 38, 39 to the underside of the sleeve 1. Thepackaging 8 is embodied close to the top end with two protruding cams 44which fit into lengthwise slots 45 of sleeve 1, thus preventing rotationof packaging 8 relative to the sleeve. A fixing or rigid securement ofpackaging 8 in sleeve 1 is also realized.

After the stick 9 present in packaging 8 has been used up, which stick 9is pressed outward through the top open end of the sleeve 1, a new stick9 with packaging 8 can be arranged by disconnecting the pusher body 11from the upper end 40 of the screw 41.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show an embodiment wherein the pusher body 11, which isagain arranged in the packaging 8 of a stick, co-acts with a pusherspindle 50 which is mounted for axial sliding in the sleeve 1. To thisend the pusher spindle 50 is connected on the underside to ahand-operated element 51 which is provided with a bushing 52 arrangedfor axial sliding in a central hole on the underside of sleeve 1.Bushing 52 has a length such that the pressure member 51 can make adetermined stroke sufficient to span a distance greater than the pitchdistance of the teeth on either side of spindle 50. The pusher body 11is provided with a thru hole 53 in which is arranged a resilient lip 54.Each time the spindle 50 is moved the pusher body 11 is shifted upward apitch distance and the stick 9 resting thereon is pressed outward.

After the stick 9 has been spent, the empty packaging 8 can be removedfrom sleeve 1 and be replaced with a full packaging 8. A window 55 insleeve 1 shows the extent the stick 9 has been used up.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show an embodiment wherein the pusher body 11 isreceived slidably in the cylindrical sleeve 1.

The pusher body 11 can again be provided with lips 31 with a tooth-likeinner surface for receiving the bottom end of a stick 9. The pusher body11 is connected via strips 60 to a member 61 operated for upward anddownward sliding on the outside of sleeve 1. The sleeve 1, in thisexample, has either a round or rectangular or polygonal section, whereina strip 60 is guided over each face and trained over the upper edge ofsleeve 1.

It will be apparent that when the hand-operated member 61 is pulleddownward the flexible strips 60 are pulled over the edge of the sleeve 1carrying upward therewith the pressure member 11. In this way a stick 9coupled to pusher body 11 will be slid out of the sleeve 1, whereafterit can then be used.

A refill stick 9 can be connected again to the pusher body 11 in theabove described manner.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show a variant of the flexible strips, wherein thepusher body 11 is connected via pressure strips 65 to a hand-operatedelement 61 slidable along the outside of sleeve 1. By sliding thehand-operated element 61 up and downward the pressure strips 65 arecarried along and will push up the pusher body 11, carrying along astick 9 placed thereon.

In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of sleeve 1 must be provided witha semicircular guide to allow the pressure strips 65 to bend withoutdisruption.

FIGS. 20 and 21 show a variant embodiment of the pressure strip in theform of a pressure chain 66, which strikes against the underside of thepusher body 11 when the chain is rotated in clockwise direction from asupply. The supply takes the form here of a chamber 67 which forms partof the sleeve 1. By connecting the spindle 68 of the chain to arotatable knob 69 located outside sleeve 1 the stick 9 placed on pusherbody 11 can be pressed out of sleeve 1, with a simple manual operationof rotating knob 69.

In this and foregoing embodiments the stick 9 can be arranged in apackaging 8 which is securely and captively held in sleeve 1 by means oflips 44.

After stick 9 has been spent, the associated packaging 8 can be removedand replaced by a new, filled packaging 8.

A new pusher body 11 is also included in the refill packaging 8, formaking it replaceable. Refilling of the sleeve 1 is implemented byrewinding the chain 67 around the spindle 68.

Although various embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed herein, they are not meant to be limiting. Those of skill inthe art may recognize certain modifications to these embodiments, whichmodifications are meant to be covered by the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

We claim:
 1. A refillable applicator for a stick of spreadable substancecomprising:an elongated hollow sleeve formed by hinged shells that has afirst opening at one end, and a second opening at another end opposingsaid one end; a refill package operatively contained within the sleeve,said refill package including a stick of the spreadable substance, and anut body accessible from the exterior of said refill package at a firstend thereof for advancing said stick of spreadable material through botha second end of the refill package, and said second opening of saidsleeve, said refill package further including packaging material formedto provide a centrally located cylindrical section for enclosing saidstick of spreadable material and said nut body, a pair of relativelythin side wing sections extending radially from opposing sides of saidcylindrical section for at least the length of said cylindrical section,and a pair of relatively thin end wings extending from opposite ends ofsaid cylindrical section as an extension of and in the same plane assaid side wing sections; a manually rotatable knob having an exteriorportion protruding from the exterior of said first opening of saidsleeve, said knob being rotatively and captively retained by said hingedshells when closed; and a spindle having one end attached to the centerof an interior end portion of said knob, said spindle having externalthreads embedded in said stick and threaded through a centrally locatedhole in said nut body; whereby turning the knob causes the nut body tomove along said spindle toward said second end of said refill package topush at least a portion of said stick of spreadable material out of saidsecond opening of said sleeve, and when said spreadable material isspent, said refill package with said nut body as a single unit isremovable from said sleeve and spindle by opening the shells thereof,thereby permitting a fresh said refill package to be installed in saidapplicator.
 2. A refillable applicator as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe sleeve further includes means for operatively engaging the refillpackage to secure the latter therein when the hinged shells are closedupon one another.
 3. A refillable applicator as set forth in claim 1,wherein said refill package includes a cylindrical space for containingsaid nut body attached to an end of said stick of spreadable material.4. A refillable applicator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spindlehas a length at least equal to the length of the stick.
 5. A refillableapplicator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spindle includes aremote end, said remote end having a tapered tip.
 6. A refillableapplicator of a spreadable substance in stick form comprising:a hollowsleeve formed by a pair of elongated shells, said sleeve having alongitudinal axis; hinges formed between juxtaposed sides of saidshells, and end walls formed at each end of each of said shells, saidend walls being perpendicular to said axis; semi-circular openingsformed in each of said end walls such that when said shells are closed,they respectively form circular apertures centered on said axis atopposite ends of said sleeve; a refill package including a cylindricalcavity having opposing first and second ends; means for mounting saidrefill package in said hollow sleeve so that said first and second endsare respectively in registration with said apertures; a stick ofspreadable material contained in said cylindrical cavity; a nut bodymounted within said cylindrical cavity, said nut body having one endattached to an end of said stick and having internal threads; said nutbody having a flat external end surface; a spindle threaded through thethreads of said nut body, and embedded in said stick; a knob attached toa free end of said spindle; said knob including means for removablyretaining said knob within a circular aperture at one end of said sleevewith a portion of said knob protruding from said sleeve permitting saidknob to be turned in a direction for moving said spindle to advance saidnut for pushing said stick out of an opposing end of said sleeve.
 7. Arefill package for use in an applicator comprising:a cylindrical stickof spreadable material having a longitudinal axis; a nut body attachedto one end of said cylindrical stick; said nut body having centrallylocated internal threads parallel to said axis with a centrally locatedhole for access to said internal threads; a knob; a threaded spindleattached to said knob, said spindle being embedded along the axis ofsaid cylindrical stick and threadedly engaged with said nut body; abearing coaxial with said spindle between said nut body and said knob;and packaging material formed to provide a centrally located cylindricalsection for enclosing said cylindrical stick and said nut body, a pairof relatively thin side wing sections extending radially from opposingsides of said cylindrical section for at least the length of saidcylindrical section, and a pair of relatively thin end wings extendingfrom opposite ends of said cylindrical section as an extension of and inthe same plane as said side wing sections.
 8. A package as set forth inclaim 7, further comprising:tear lines perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of said cylindrical section, and so located along the axis as toexpose a free end of the nut body, and to expose the end of thecylindrical stick that is remote from the nut body when the packagingmaterial is torn along said tear lines.